Winelands Productions shines with Robe
Winelands Productions shines with Robe
Winelands Productions has expanded its Robe lighting inventory to support a growing schedule of corporate events, festivals, concerts and sporting events across South Africa.
Founded by Eric van der Watt, the Cape Town-based technical production company initially invested in 12 Robe LEDBeam 150 fixtures, followed by 12 IP-rated iBeam 350s. Since making the purchase, the company has moved into a larger warehouse and office facility in Somerset West, where it employs 12 full-time staff.
The investment in the iBeam 350s was driven partly by the demands of outdoor events in the Western Cape, where weather conditions can be unpredictable, and the need for fixtures offering greater wash output. “Servicing the summer workloads was a motivator to get the iBeam 350s,” confirmed van der Watt, adding that Robe is “rider-friendly and they can be used as washes or beams, so the versatility and all-round usability are great.”
For Winelands Productions’ head of lighting, Lorenzio Martin, Ethernet connectivity is a key feature of the iBeam 350s. The control capability supports pixel mapping and enables the export of MVR files to the video team, allowing content to be routed through the lighting fixtures.
Martin, who also designs lighting and visuals, said he sees increasing convergence between lighting and video workflows. “The iBeam 350s are great. I can use them for washes or beam effects, as pixel-mapped fixtures, and having the extra brightness is always good,” he noted.
Winelands Productions has deployed the fixtures at a range of events, including Bok Town fan parks supporting South Africa’s Springboks rugby team, where it provides a complete technical solution every second weekend during the rugby season. Other projects include concerts by Gipsy Kings and Boney M, as well as the Beach Pro Tour in Camps Bay, where the company supplied lighting, audio and video. The company continues to use its original LEDBeam 150s for smaller events, with Martin citing their compact construction alongside their versatility.
